Light Emitting Bubble Creation Device

ABSTRACT

The Improved light emitting bubble creation device is an invention that because of it&#39;s ability to emit light throughout a bubble creation ring and bubble wand rather than a single point light emission and because of it&#39;s unique incorporation of electroluminescent fibers, causes a created bubble to take on a unique and appealing self illuminating appearance, especially when a bubble is in contact with a bubble creation orifice. The invention is further enhanced by providing a bubble solution container or reservoir that contains lighted bubble solution. Such lighted bubble solution not only creates an appealing appearance, but facilitates the process of bubble creation and play in low light conditions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to light emitting bubble creation devices.More particularly, the present invention relates to bubble creationdevices having bubble creation rings that emit light by means of anintegrated electroluminescent fiber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is light emitting bubble creation apparatus. Theinvention, having a bubble creation orifice which includes a coloredlight emitting electroluminescent fiber incorporated therein, hasparticular application for use in creating bubbles wherein the bubblesradiate or reflect light from the bubble orifice, especially while thebubble is in contact with the bubble creation orifice. The invention mayalso include a light emitting device adjacent to a bubble solutionreservoir, such as a substantially clear bottle of bubble solutionliquid type reservoir, so as to cause the bubble liquid solution to glowand reflect preferably colored light.

It is well known that liquid soap bubble type bubble creation devices,in a variety of embodiments, have long existed, and have had significantcommercial success. It is also well known that light emittingelectroluminescent fibers commonly referred to as “EL wire”, has existedfor some time and has enjoyed considerable commercial success. Adefinition of such EL wire is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,869,930. U.S.Pat. No. 5,869,930 is expressly incorporated herein by reference. It isalso know that some toys or related playthings have had EL wireincorporated therein. An example of such EL wire light toy relateddevice is disclosed in pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/326,716. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/326,716 is expresslyincorporated herein by reference. Recently, some attempts to illuminatea liquid soap bubble type bubble have been attempted. An example of alighted bubble creation device is the “motorized bubble light” by LittleKids, Inc. The “motorized bubble light” functions much light thecombination of a conventional flashlight and a bubble creation device byproviding for the user to create bubbles and cast or shine a light beamon the created bubbles. While the “motorized bubble light” is effectivein illuminating bubbles, due to the significant light beam that isprojected onto the bubbles, the “motorized bubble light” fails to causethe created bubble to glow or cause the bubble to take on the effect ofthe bubble itself emanating light. Another example of a lighted bubblecreation device is the “bubble light fest” by Maui Toys. The “bubblelight fest” is a bubble creation machine that includes a plurality ofvarious colored light emitting diodes or LEDs surrounding a bubblecreation orifice. As bubbles are created by means of the battery poweredelectric motor driven bubble creation apparatus, the LEDs flash inseemingly various random patterns. While the “bubble light fest”, likethe “motorized bubble light”, is effective in projecting light ontobubbles, and the “bubble light fest” adds the dimension of variouscolored light, due to the light being projected onto the bubbles, the“bubble light fest” fails to cause the created bubble to glow or causethe bubble to take on the effect of the bubble itself emanating light.Yet another example of a lighted bubble creation device is the “flashbubbles” by Maui Toys. The “flash bubbles” device is a bubble creationdevice that defines a bubble creation wand having a wand stem and alight switch on a first stem end, a bubble creation ring on a secondstem end, and a single LED located in the center of the wand stem. Inpractice, when the light switch is activated, the LED is illuminated andsome reflected refracted or reflected light is transmitted through thewand. While the “flash bubbles” device does emit light at a single pointin the center of the bubble wand, the “flash bubbles” device does notinclude a light emitting device within or on the bubble ring itself,does not include an electroluminescent fiber, and fails to cause thecreated bubble to significantly glow or cause the bubble to take on theeffect of the bubble itself emanating light.

Because the subject invention provides a bubble creation wand having abubble creation orifice that includes EL wire encircling an innerdiametrical opening of the bubble creation device, the subject inventioncause a created bubble to significantly glow and causes a created bubbleto take on a unique and appealing self illuminating appearance. Further,when used in combination with a preferably clear container of bubblesolution having a light emitting device connected to the bottle ofbubble solution, the subject invention provides added play value for theuser of the invention, especially in low light conditions.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order that the advantages of the invention will be readilyunderstood, a more particular description of the invention brieflydescribed above will be rendered by reference to specific embodimentsthat are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that thesedrawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are nottherefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the inventionwill be described and explained with additional specificity and detailthrough the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a substantially isometric view of the light emitting bubblecreation device.

FIG. 2 is an exploded substantially isometric view of the light emittingbubble creation device.

FIG. 3 is a substantially orthographic cross-sectional view of the lightemitting bubble creation device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the sectionview being taken through the stem of the bubble wand as indicated by thecross-section arrows shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is shown at a larger scalethan FIG. 1 and 2. No cross-hatching is shown in the EL wire forclarity.

FIG. 4 is a substantially orthographic cross-sectional view of a lightedcontainer of liquid bubble solution.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the electrical components of the lightemitting bubble creation device. FIG. 5 is also representative of theelectrical components of the lighted bubble solution container assembly.Cross-hatching has been omitted for clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature,structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” andsimilar language throughout this specification may, but do notnecessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics ofthe invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details areincluded to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of theinvention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, thatthe invention can be practiced without one or more of the specificdetails, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. Inother instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are notshown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of theinvention.

In order to facilitate the understanding of the present invention inreviewing the drawings accompanying the specification, a feature tableis provided below. It is noted that like features are like numberedthroughout all of the figures. FEATURE TABLE # Feature 10 Light emittingbubble creation device 12 Bubble wand assembly 14 Handle assembly 16Handle assembly retention receptacle 20 First bubble wand member 21 Wandstem 22 Wand attach end 23 Bubble creation orifice 24 Bubble creationfin 25 Bubble orifice inner opening 26 Bubble wand channel 30 Secondbubble wand member 31 Wand stem 32 Wand attach end 33 Bubble orifice 34Bubble creation fin 35 Bubble creation orifice inner opening 36 Bubblewand channel 40 Electroluminescent fiber 50 First handle member 51Second handle member 53 Electrical switch 54 Power indication light 55Inverter 56 Battery 60 Lighted bubble solution container assembly 70Container 72 Container open end 74 Container closed end 76 Bubblesolution 80 Base assembly 81 Base 82 Container reception well 84Electroluminescent fiber 86 Inverter 88 Battery 89 Electrical switch 90Schematic diagram in general 91 Battery 92 Electrical power inverter 93Electrical switch 94 Electrically activated light 95 Power indicationlight 96 Electrical line

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 through 3, theinvention is improved light emitting bubble creation device 10comprising a bubble wand assembly 12 and a handle assembly 14. Bubblewand assembly 12 comprises a first bubble wand member 20, a secondbubble wand member 30, and at least one electroluminescent fiber 40 ofthe type of electroluminescent fiber taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,869,930.Electroluminescent fiber 40 preferably defines a plurality of variouscolored electroluminescent fibers.

Bubble wand member 20 defines a preferably substantially transparentplastic bubble wand member having a wand stem 21, a wand attach end 22,a bubble creation orifice 23, at least one bubble solution retainingbubble creation fin 24, bubble orifice inner opening 25, and at leastone bubble wand channel 26. Bubble wand member 30 defines a preferablysubstantially transparent plastic bubble wand member having a wand stem31, a wand attach end 32, a bubble creation orifice 33, at least onebubble solution retaining bubble creation fin 34, bubble orifice inneropening 35, and at least one bubble wand channel 36. Bubble wandassembly 12 is assembled such that bubble wand member 20 and bubble wandmember 30 are sealingly connected together to form a bubble wand andsuch that electroluminescent fiber 40 is contained in the channels 26and 36 formed in wand members 20 and 30 respectively. Channels 26 and 36and electroluminescent fiber 40 preferably extend the entire length ofbubble wand assembly 12 and electroluminescent fiber 40 preferably formsa lightable loop in bubble creation orifices 23 and 33.

Handle assembly 14 comprises a first preferably plastic handle member 50forming a structural substantially shell shaped member, a secondpreferably plastic handle member 51 forming a structural substantiallyshell shaped member, an electrical switch 53, a power indication light54, an electrical inverter 55, and a battery 56. Handle assembly 14 isassembled such that handle member 50 and handle member 51 are sealinglyconnected together to form a substantially hollow structural handleassembly. Handle assembly 14 further includes a first end having aretention receptacle 16. Handle assembly 14 also includes electricalswitch 53, power indication light 54, electrical inverter 55, andbattery 56 mounted to handle assembly 14. Electrical switch 53, powerindication light 54, electrical inverter 55, and battery 56 areelectrically connected and form a portion of an electrical circuit suchas that circuit depicted in FIG. 5.

Light emitting bubble creation device 10 is assembled such that wandattach ends 22 and 32 of bubble wand assembly 12, are retentativelyconnected to retention receptacle 16 of handle assembly 14, and suchthat at least one electroluminescent fiber 40 is electrically connectedto electrical switch 53. In practice, light emitting bubble creationdevice 10 functions similar to a conventional bubble wand in that whenlight emitting bubble creation device 10 is first dipped into bubblecreation solution and then exposed to an air stream, bubbles arecreated. However, when electrical switch 53 is in an on position, lightemitting bubble creation device 10 emits light from throughout wandmembers 20 and 30 and throughout bubble creation orifices 23 and 33.Being thus lighted, light emitting bubble creation device 10 emits lighteven while immersed or partially immersed in bubble solution and whilecreating a bubble. Further when lighted, light emitting bubble creationdevice 10 imparts a significant glow, not merely at a single point butthroughout wand members 20 and 30, and causes a created bubble to takeon a unique and appealing self illuminating appearance. In contrast toprior art devices which may merely reflect light through a bubblecreation orifice, bubble creation orifices 23 and 33 of light emittingbubble creation device 10, originate light and are the source of light.The consequent unique and appealing self illuminating appearanceimparted to the bubble is especially observable when a created bubble isin contact with bubble creation orifices 23 and 33 under low lightconditions. It is also noted that in larger versions of the disclosedembodiment, electroluminescent fiber 40 may be formed so as to outline aparticular shape such as the shape of a cartoon character.

FIG. 5 is provided to display a sample electrical schematic diagram ofthe disclosed embodiment. In FIG. 5, diagram 90 symbolically displaysbattery 91, electrical power inverter 92, electrical switch 93,electrically activated light 94, a power indication light 95, and anelectrical line 96. The components of the described embodiment areelectrically connected in the order depicted in diagram 90 of FIG. 5,such that the disclosed embodiment functions as described above.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 4, an alternateembodiment of the invention defines a lighted bubble solution containerassembly 60 for use in combination with the improved light emittingbubble creation device 10. Lighted bubble solution container assembly 60comprises container 70 and base assembly 80.

Container 70 preferably defines a substantially transparent plasticcontainer having a container open end 72, a container closed end 74, andbubble solution 76 contained within container 70. Container 70 may beadapted to contain a predetermined amount of bubble solution forinstance 0.30, 0.50, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 8.0, 12.0 16.0, or 32.0 ounces ofbubble solution or container 70 may be adapted to contain more or lessthan the listed amounts of bubble solution. Base assembly 80 comprises asubstantially hollow generally cylindrically shaped transparent plasticbase 81 having a container reception well 82. Base assembly 80 furtherincludes at least one electroluminescent fiber 84, electrical powerinverter 86, battery 88, and pressure sensitive electrical switch 89mounted to base 81. At least one electroluminescent fiber 84, electricalpower inverter 86, battery 88, pressure sensitive electrical switch 89,and optionally an electrical power indication light are electricallyconnected and form an electrical circuit such as that circuit depictedin FIG. 5.

In practice, when container 70 is rested in base assembly 80, containerclosed end 74 comes into contact with pressure sensitive electricalswitch 89, causing an electrical circuit to be closed and in turncausing at least one electroluminescent fiber 84 to emit light. Thelight emitted from at least one electroluminescent fiber 84, passesthrough transparent container 70 and causes bubble solution 76 to glowand emit light. The glowing of bubble solution 76 not only creates anappealing lighting effect, it causes the bubble solution to be morereadily location by a user when using lighted bubble solution containerassembly 60 in low light conditions. Further when light emitting bubblecreation device 10 is used in combination with lighted bubble solutioncontainer assembly 60, unique and multi-colored lighting effects arecreated. Lighted bubble solution container assembly 60 may optionally beprovided such that container 70 is permanently affixed to base assembly80, in which case pressure sensitive electrical switch 89 is adapted tobe actuated manually rather than by the causing of container closed end74 to come into contact with pressure sensitive electrical switch 89.Lighted bubble solution container assembly 60 may optionally haveelectroluminescent fibers 84 rearranged in a variety of locations andcolor combinations. For instance, electroluminescent fibers 84 mayoutline container open end 72 so as to make container open end 72 morereadily visible in low light conditions. Furthermore, light emittingbubble creation device 10 may be adapted to incorporate a variety ofelectroluminescent fibers 84 in a plurality of locations in addition toor in place of a bubble wand or bubble creation orifice location.

FIG. 5 is provided to display a sample electrical schematic diagram ofthe disclosed alternated embodiment. In FIG. 5, diagram 90 symbolicallydisplays battery 91, electrical power inverter 92, electrical switch 93,electrically activated light 94, a power indication light 95, and anelectrical line 96. The components of the described alternate embodimentare electrically connected in the order depicted in diagram 90 of FIG.5, such that the invention functions as described above.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

1. A light emitting bubble creation apparatus comprising a bubble creation device connected to at least one electroluminescent fiber.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bubble creation device defines a bubble wand having a substantially elongated stem portion connected to a substantially ring shaped bubble creation orifice.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said bubble wand includes at least one channel formed within said stem and said orifice and wherein at least one electroluminescent fiber is contained within said at least one channel.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said bubble wand defines a substantially clear plastic bubble wand.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said orifice includes a plurality of bubble creation fins connected to said orifice.
 6. A light emitting bubble creation apparatus comprising a bubble creation orifice connected to at least one light originating light emitting device.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said at least one light originating light emitting device defines an electroluminescent fiber.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said bubble creation orifice is connected to a stem to form a bubble wand.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said bubble wand includes at least one channel formed within said stem and said orifice and wherein at least one electroluminescent fiber is contained within said at least one channel.
 10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said bubble creation orifice defines a substantially clear plastic bubble creation orifice.
 11. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said orifice includes a plurality of bubble creation fins connected to said orifice.
 12. A lighted container of bubble creation solution comprising an open container of bubble solution connected to a light emitting device such that when said light emitting device is lighted, light is transmitted into said bubble solution.
 13. The lighted container of claim 12 wherein said container defines a substantially transparent plastic container.
 14. The lighted container of claim 12 wherein said light emitting device defines an electroluminescent fiber.
 15. The lighted container of claim 14 wherein said electroluminescent fiber is position so as to outline a periphery of said opening of said container.
 16. The lighted container of claim 12 wherein said container defines a reservoir of bubble solution and said light emitting device defines a separable base, said base having a light emitting device and a switch, and wherein when said reservoir is placed in said base, said switch is actuated, said light emitting device is lighted, and light is transmitted into said bubble solution.
 17. A lighted container of bubble creation solution comprising a container of bubble solution connected to at least one electroluminescent fiber.
 18. The lighted container of claim 17 wherein said container defines a substantially transparent plastic container.
 19. The lighted container of claim 17 wherein said container defines a container having an opening and wherein said electroluminescent fiber is position so as to outline a periphery of said opening of said container.
 20. The lighted container of claim 17 wherein said container defines a reservoir of bubble solution and said at least one electroluminescent fiber is mounted within a separable base, said base having an activatable switch, and wherein when said reservoir is placed in said base, said switch is actuated, said at least one electroluminescent fiber is lighted, and light is transmitted into said bubble solution.
 21. A light emitting bubble creation kit comprising a bubble creation orifice connected to at least one electroluminescent fiber and a lighted container of bubble creation solution comprising an open container of bubble solution connected to at least one electroluminescent fiber. 